Structural and air conditioning system for multi-story buildings



Dec. 6, 1966 J. s. TODD STRUCTURAL AND AIR CONDITIONING SYSTEM FOR MULTI-STORY BUILDINGS Filed March 21, 1963 8 Sheets-Sheet 1 Dec. 6, 1966 s. TODD 3,289,566

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J. STRUCTURAL AND AIR CONDITIONING SYSTEM FOR MULTI-STORY BUILDINGS Filed March 21, 1963 8 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR. JOHN J. T

Dec. 6, 1966 J. 5. TODD 3,289,566 STRUCTURAL AND AIR CONDITIONING SYSTEM FOR MULTI-STORY BUILDINGS Filed Mar ch 21, 1963 8 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR Iii-E1: 5 JOHN s. 7-0 00 Dec. 6, 1966 J. 5. TODD 3,289,566

STRUCTURAL AND AIR CONDITIONING SYSTEM FOR MULTI-STORY BUILDINGS Filed March 21, 1963 8 Sheets--Sheet e INVENTOR. .26

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STRUCTURAL AND AIR CONDITIONING SYSTEM FOR MULTI-STORY BUILDINGS Filed March 21, 1963 8 Sheets Sheet 7 I N VEN TOR.

JOHN S. 7-005 a, 1 66 MKM ,4 Trek/v: rs

1966 J. s. TODD 3,289,566

STRUCTURAL AND AIR CONDITIONING SYSTEM FOB MULTI-STORY BUILDINGS Flled March 21, 1965 8 Sheets-Sheet 8 ZTEELLE INVENTOR. JON/V 6. 7000 atent 3,289,556 Patented Dec. 6, 1966 free 3,289,566 STRUCTURAL AND AIR CONDITIONING SYSTEM FOR MULTI-STORY BUILDINGS John S. Todd, Grosse Pointe Woods, Mich, assignor to The R. C. Mahon (iompany, Warren, Mich, a corpration of Michigan Filed Mar. 21, 1963, Ser. No. 267,055 11 Claims. (til. 9838) This invention relates to the air conditioning of multistory buildings and particularly to a combined structural and air conditioning system for multi-story buildings.

In the air conditioning of large units of'floor area, it is Well known that the peripheral zones extending from the perimeter toward the interior for a distance of to are subject to large variations in thermal loads which occur during the year and periodically during the day. Such zones are usually called exterior zones. By contrast, the remaining zones of the building have relatively constant thermal load conditions which usually require cooling. These zones are commonly called interior zones.

It has heretofore been suggested that a multi-story building could be air conditioned by utilizing the cellular structural floor that is found in many multi-story build ings as a part of the conditioned air distribution system.

Hot and cold air risers passing upwardly through the service core or shaft that is usually found in multi-story buildings have been used to convey hot and cold air to each story. This air is then distributed to spaces on each story by laterally extending header-ducts usually found adjacent to the service core or extending generally along a major center line of the building. The air is then further distributed from the header-ducts to selected structural floor cells which are usually oriented normal to the header-ducts and which generally traverse the areas between a major center line and the perimeter of the building. Cells conveying air for treating exterior zones, thus necessarily traverse interior zones. Since cells convey air through the interior zone to serve the exterior zones, the temperature of the air in such cells may differ substantially from the air in the interior zone. For example, in winter, the cells may be carrying relatively hot air to the exterior zone, resulting in undesirable heating of the floors of the interior zones where relative cooling is usually required. Thus, where cells receive air directly adjacent to the service core and traverse interior and exterior zones, substantial thermal losses occur.

Another problem in conveying air in floor Cells from points adjacent the service core to the exterior zones is that substantial pressure losses occur because of the usually extensive runout lengths. As a result, relatively high pressure are imposed on the fan unit. Higher pressures on the fan unit demand greater power and frequently a more expensive prime mover, drive and control, as Well as increased power consumption.

It is an object of this invention to provide a combined structural and air conditioning system for multi-story buildings which will provide suflicient hot and cold air for the extreme seasonal changes or changes due to sun position during the day with minimum sizes of ducts and fans.

It is a further object of the invention to provide such a system wherein each cell traverses and carries air to one of the interior and peripheral zones only and therefore is not subjected to wide ranges of temperature variation.

It is a further object of this invention to provide such a system which utilizes ducts of substantially uniform size throughout thereby lessening the cost of fabrication.

It is a further object of this invention to provide such a system which is less noisy than systems heretofore used.

It is a further object of this invention to provide such a system which occupies a minimum of headroom in the building.

It is a further object of the invention to provide such a system wherein the lengths of the conduits connecting the supply risers and the cells are minimized.

It is a further object of the invention to provide such a system wherein the need for cleaning is lessened.

Basically, the combined structural and air conditioning system embodying the invention comprises a plurality of structural cells extending in side-by-side relation across horizontal supports of each story of the building, each cell having a length many times its width and height. The building includes a conventional vertically extending service core which is spaced from the periphery thereof. At least two air supply risers extend substantially vertically in the service core for supplying conditioned air to each story. At each story there are provided at least two closed loop ducts of substantially uniform cross section adjacent the structural cells and in horizontally spaced relationship to the service core and to the periphery of the building. Each closed loop duct is positioned preferably in the area delineating the transition between the peripheral zone and the interior zone of each floor. In this manner, the conduits or cells extending from the closed loop ducts need not traverse both the interior and peripheral zones. One of the closed loop ducts is connected to one of the air supply risers and the other closed loop duct is connected to the other air supply riser in the service core. In addition, one of the closed loop ducts is connected to some of the cells and the other of the ring ducts is connected to others of said cells. Preferably, the cells are connected to spaced points on the respective closed loop duct. Finally, means are provided for mixing the air streams from cells connected to the closed loop ducts and introducing them to zones of the building. By this arrangement, each closed loop duct provides conditioned air throughout its length at substantially the same pressure so that the cells can be supplied uniformly from the loop duct. Further, the use of a continuous closed loop duct permits conditioned air to be readily diverted from one zone to another to provide conditioned air at substantially constant pressure to the cells in the various zones of the building as the heating or cooling load shifts due to changes in sun position and seasons. Since the closed loop duct is positioned at a point spaced from the service core, there is a minimum traversal of cells by interconnecting conduits between the ring duct and the cells. The connecting ducts are limited to those extending from the vertical supply ducts in the service core to the ring ducts.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a partly diagrammatic plan view of a story of the multi-story building embodying the invention.

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary sectional view on an enlarged scale taken along the line 2-2 in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary partly diagrammatic sectional view taken along the line 33 in FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a partly diagrammatic plan view of a modified story of a multi-story building embodying the invention.

FIG. 5 is a partly diagrammatic plan view of a further modified story in a multi-story building embodying the invention.

FIG. 6 is a partly diagrammatic plan view of a further modified story of a multi-story building embodying the invention.

FIG. 7 is a vertical sectional view through a story showing the manner in which the cells are used to supply conditioned air to a floor-type mixing unit.

FIG. 8 is a vertical sectional view through a story show ing the manner in which the cells are used to supply conditioned air to a ceiling-type mixing unit.

FIG. 9 is a fragmentary sectional view on an enlarged scale taken along the line 99 in FIG. 7.

FIG. 10 is a part sectional elevational view of a portion of the apparatus shown in FIG. 9.

FIG. 11 is a fragmentary sectional view taken along the line 1111 in FIG. 9.

FIG. 12 is a fragmentary sectional view taken along the line 1212 in FIG. 11.

FIG. 13 is a fragmentary sectional view taken along the line 1313 in FIG. 11.

FIG. 14 is a fragmentary sectional view taken along the line 14-14 in FIG. 11.

FIG. 15 is a partly diagrammatic plan view of a further modified story in a multi-story building embodying the invention.

FIG. 16 is a fragmentary perspective view of a portion of the structure shown in FIG. 15 showing the manner in which the air is mixed and supplied to the cells.

FIG. 17 is a part sectional elevation of a portion of the structure shown in FIG. 16.

FIG. 18 is a sectional view taken along the line 1818 in FIG. 17.

Referring to FIGS. 1, 2 and 3, the combined structural and air conditioning system embodying the invention is particularly designed for use with a multi-story building. As shown in FIG. 1 which is a partly diagrammatic plan view of a story in a multi-story building, the building comprises a service core 20 extending vertically there through. At each story, the floor is formed by a plurality of closely spaced structural units 21 which in the floor plan shown in FIG. I extend throughout the length of the building. Each unit 21 is made of sheet metal and comprises an upper member 22 having one or more inverted U-shaped portions that cooperate with a lower flat member 23 to define the cells C (FIG. 2). In the form shown in FIG. 2 a double cell is provided by the two members. The bottom member 23 of adjacent cell units are interconnected by flanges 24, 25. Each cell C thus has a length many times its width and height. In FIG. 1, cells C extend across horizontal supports such as beams. Some of the cells are broken away to facilitate the description of the invention.

As shown in FIG. 1, at least two supply risers 26, 27 extend vertically in the service core 29. Supply risers 26, 27 are adapted to be connected to individual sources of conditioned air so that hot air can be supplied through risers 26 and cold air can be supplied through risers 27.

According to the invention, continuous closed loop ducts 28, 29 are provided beneath the cells C and in horizontally spaced relation to the service core 20 and the periphery 30 of the building. Outer closed loop duct 28 is connected at spaced points to the hot air supply risers 26 by interconnecting conduits 31. Inner closed loop duct 29 is connected to cold air supply risers 27 at spaced points by interconnecting ducts 32.

The continuous closed loop ducts 28, 29 are of substantially uniform cross section throughout. The closed loop ducts are preferably in the same plane but for purposes of convenience are shown in different planes in FIG. 3. By this arrangement, the air pressure in each closed loop duct 28, 29 is substantially constant throughout the length or" the closed loop duct. Similarly, as presently described, as the load on any particular part of the building shifts from one zone to another, such as due to change in sun position, the continuous closed loop duct is able to supply the changing load by diverting air from one zone to another.

The closed loop ducts 28, 29 are, in turn, connected to the cells C which traverse the ring ducts merely by cutting openings in the cells C and closed loop ducts and utilizing short connectors 83, 84 (FIG. 2). In the cells which traverse opposite portions of the closed loop duct, the cells are supplied from both sides of the closed loop duct so that the air has to travel a minimum distance through the cells. In the cells which are outside of the periphery of the closed loop ducts 28, 29, interconnecting conduits 33, 34 are provided.

At appropriate zones of the building where the air must be mixed for conditioning the zone, the air from cells supplied by closed loop duct 28 and cells supplied by closed loop duct 29 is mixed in either floor-type mixing units 48 or ceilingtype mixing units 41. In the drawings of FIGS. 1, 4, 5 and 6, the designation of a circle has been used to indicate an outlet from the closed loop ducts 28, 29 to the cells and the designation of an x has been used to indicate an outlet from the cells through interconnecting conduits to the mixing units 40, 41.

In the floor plan shown in FIG. 4, the cells 50 extend across the width rather than the length of the building. In addition, only two air supply risers 51, 52 are provided. Hot air supply duct 51 is connected to opposed spaced points on outer continuous closed loop duct 53 by interconnecting conduits 54, 55. Cold air supply duct 52 is connected to opposed spaced points on inner continuous closed loop duct 56 by interconnecting conduits 57, 58.

As in the previous form of the invention, the cells 50 are selectively connected to the closed loop ducts 53, 56 at the points where the cells overlie the closed loop ducts. The cells which are beyond the periphery of the closed loop ducts 53, 56 are connected to the ring ducts 53, 56 at spaced points by interconnecting conduits 59, 60. The various zones of the building are provided with conditioned air by either floor-type mixing units 61 that are connected by connecting conduits to the cells supplied by closed loop ducts 53, 56 or ceiling'type mixing units 62 which are similarly connected to cells which have been supplied respectively by closed loop ducts 53, 56.

The arrangement shown in FIG. 4 may be particularly adapted to certain structural requirements of a building.

In the form of floor plan shown in FIG. 5, some of the cells 70 extend across the Width of the building while others of the cells 71 extend along the length of the building.

In this form of the invention, two sets of supply risers 72, 73 are provided and are connected to opposed points of their respective closed loop ducts 74, 75 by interconnecting ducts 77, 7 6.

As in the previous form of the invention, the cells 70 which intersect the closed loop ducts 74, 75 at spaced points are connected selectively thereto to supply hot and cold air to the cells 70. The cells 71 which extend longitudinally of the building are connected at the point where they intersect the closed loop ducts 74, 75 and extend from the closed loop ducts 74, 75 to the periphery of the building. Those cells 71a which are beyond the periphery of closed loop ducts 74, 75 are connected thereto by interconnecting conduits 78, 79.

As in the previous form of the invention, the cells 70 supply floor-type mixing units and ceiling-type mixing units 81. The cells 71 similarly supply floor-type mixing units 32 or, if desired, ceiling-type mixing units 82.

This form of construction has the advantage in that the cells 71 serve the dual function of supply and interconnecting conduits so that no interconnecting conduits are required beyond the periphery of the closed loop ducts 74, 75 except for several short interconnecting conduits 78, 79.

In the floor plan shown in FIG. 6, the arrangement is similar to that shown in FIG. 5 and includes cells extending transversely across the width of the building and cells 86 extending longitudinally of the building. In this form, the closed loop ducts 87, 88 extend closer to the ends of the building so that the cells 86 are shorter. The vertical hot and cold air supply risers 88, 89 in the service core are connected to diametrically spaced points on the closed loop ducts, respectively, by interconnecting conduits 9t), 91 and 92, 93. Further, in the form shown in FIG. 6, some of the longitudinal cells 86' are connected to the transverse cells 85 so that no interconnecting conduits are provided beyond the periphery of the ring ducts 87, 88.

As in the previous form of the invention, the cells can supply air to floor-type mixing units 95 or ceiling-type mixing units 96.

The manner in which the cells supplied with air from the closed loop ducts, in turn, supply air through a floortype mixing unit can be seen with reference to FIG. 7 which is a vertical sectional view through the floor plan shown in FIG. 1. It can be understood that the construction is similar for the other floor plans shown in FIGS. 4, and 6.

As shown in FIG. 7, the hot air from hot closed loop duct 28 passes upwardly through connector 83 to cell C and thereafter to the floor-type mixing unit 40. Similarly, cold air passes from cold ring duct 29 through connector vi134 to a different cell C and then to the mixing unit 40.

As shown in FIG. 9, the mixing unit 40 comprising a casing 100 positioned in overlying relation to the ends of the cells 21 through which the hot and cold air has been supplied. The air passes from the cells C upwardly through openings 101 in the top wall of the cells into chambers 102 that form a part of pressure regulating valves 103 individual to each duct 21. The pressure regulating valves 103 insures a supply of constant pressure air to mixing valve 104.

As shown in FIG. 10, each pressure regulating valve 103 comprises a rod 105 which extends between vertical walls 106, 107 of the pressure regulating valve and on which a tubular shaft 108 is slidably mounted by linear ball bearings 108a. The shaft supports inclined discs or rectangular plates 109, 110 which cooperate with openings 111, 112 in inclined walls 113, 114 to selectively restrict or open and close the openings. The end of the tubular shaft 108 is, in turn, connected by rods 115 to the wall 116 of a diaphragm that communicates on one side thereof through openings 117 to the downstream side of the valve.

As shown in FIGS. 11-14, mixing valve 104 comprises a flat sheet 120 having openings 121, 122 therein which are adapted to be selectively opened or closed by a flat sheet or disc 123 operating in side flanges 124. The disc 123 is connected operatively by a rod 125 to a thermostatic control of conventional construction which senses temperature changes in the zone of the building. The disc 123 is so arranged with respect to the openings 121, 122 that as the one opening 121 is opened, the other opening 122 is closed and vice versa. By this arrangement, a constant volume of air is provided through the space 127 for passage upwardly through a grill 128 into the interior of the room. By this arrangement, as the differential pressure between the downstream and upstream side of the disc 123 varies, it causes a flexing of the valve moving the discs 109, 110 to control the pressure of air flowing into the upper portions 118, 119 of the valve.

In order to provide an overall control of the total volume supplied, individual transverse plates 129, 130 are provided for varying the overall size of the openings 121, 122. The plates are actuated by handles 131, 132. As shown in FIGS. 13 and 14, in order to provide a proper seal and minimize noise, the edges of the various plates are provided with suitable resilient grommets 133.

A similar construction is utilized in the ceiling-type units as shown in FIG. 8 wherein the ceiling-type units comprise a pressure reducing valve 140 and a mixing valve 141 mounted horizontally.

It has been found that in some instances, preferably where the length of run of the cells from the closed loop ducts is great, it is preferred to mix the hot and cold air by use of a mixing unit and return it to the cells for passage to delivery areas. Thus, the outlet of mixing valve 141 can be returned to cells C, the cells being provided with a baflie that prevents direct communication between the mixed air and the hot or cold air, as the case may be, on each side of the mixing unit. Even greater efficiency is achieved by positioning the mixing unit between the closed loop ducts, as shown in FIGS. 15 .and 16. Thus, air from closed loop ducts 150, 151 passes through conduits 152, 153 to a mixing unit 154 and thereafter the mixed air is introduced into cells along which they flow to various areas of the building. By this arrange ment, the mixed air passing through the cells is more nearly at the desired area temperature and less thermal losses occur. In this form of the invention, it is preferred that a sound attenuating device 155 be provided at the outlets from the cells C to the interior being conditioned. As shown in FIGS. 17 and 18, such attenuating devices 155 comprise a housing 156 connected by a conduit 157 to the cell C. The housing 156 has an outlet 158. A sound barrier 159 is interposed between the line of sight of the outlet 158 and the inlet to the sound attenuating device 155. In such a device, it is preferred that an adjustable damper 160 be provided at the inlet which is adjusted and locked in position to provide the necessary supply of mixed and conditioned air to the interior zone. Housing 156 is preferably made of sound absorbing material or is provided with an acoustical lining. Similarly, the damper 160 is made of acoustical absorbing material or coated with material such as felt.

In each of the forms of the invention which have been described, each continuous closed loop duct is positioned at a point intermediate the service core and the periphery of the building and comprises a duct of substantially uniform cross section. Each closed loop duct is positioned preferably in the area delineating the transition between the peripheral zone and the interior zone of each floor. In this manner, the conduits or cells extending from the closed loop ducts need not traverse both the interior and peripheral zones. Air from the vertical supply risers passing to the closed loop duct circulates in the closed loop ducts and provides a source of air at substantially uniform pressure for supplying the cells. By utilizing the principle of static regain, that is, the conversion of kinetic energy to static energy, the pressure in each ring duct remains substantially constant.

Since the pressure is substantially constant, it is possible to have each closed loop duct of uniform cross section, thus minimizing the amount of fabrication required and, further, lessening the power of the fans and associated conduits used in connection therewith. The use of closed loop duets with substantially uniform cross section also diminishes the cost of fabrication as contrasted to conduits or ducts which might have substantial changes in cross section.

In operation, as the heating or cooling load shifts due to seasonal changes or changes in sun position, the closed loop ducts are able to supply conditioned air as may be needed to the changing zones of the building. Referring to FIG. 1, as the sun position changes from the east to the west in the Northern hemisphere, the closed loop ducts are able to vary the supply of air progressively to various parts of the building. Thus, when the sun is in the east, the closed loop duct supplying cool air can provide the air to the eastern zone of the buildings through portions L L of the closed loop duct. As the position of the sun shifts to a position generally southerly, at midday, the air will be supplied equally by the closed loop duct through the portions E, W generally symmetrically of the closed loop duct. As the sun position further moves to the west, the air will be supplied through portions L L in the opposite direction from the direction when the air is supplied to the east. Thus, the provision of a closed loop duct permits air more readily to be supplied to the zones where it is required. A similar operation will occur with respect to the hot closed loop duct. Where the closed loop ducts are supplied by air from one or more vertical supply risers at spaced points, this action is further facilitated since the air can move in two directions from each riser duct.

In addition, there is a minimum of thermal loss between the cells and the connecting conduits. This is important in order to prevent undue heating or cooling of the central zones of the building when hot or cold air is supplied to the periphery as required.

A further feature of the invention as shown in FIG. 3 is that the provision of the two closed loop ducts below the cells utilizes a minimum of headroom so that the building can be made less in height or, alternatively, the headroom can be utilized for other purposes.

I claim:

1. In a multi-story building, a combined structural and air conditioning system comprising spaced apart horizontal supports at each story of the building,

a plurality of structural cells extending in side-by-side relation across said supports,

each said cell having a length many times its Width and height,

means defining a vertically extending service core spaced from the periphery of said building,

at least two air supply risers extending substantially vertically in said service core for supplying conditioned air to each story,

a first continuous closed loop duct of substantially uniform cross section positioned at each story adjacent said structural cells and in horizontally spaced relationship to said service core and to the periphery of the building in the area of transition between the thermal interior and peripheral zones of the building,

means for connecting said first continuous closed loop duct with one of said air supply risers,

a second continuous closed loop duct of substantially uniform cross section at each story positioned adjacent said structural cells in horizontally spaced relation to said service core and to the periphery of the building in the area of transition between the thermal interior and peripheral zones of the building,

means for connecting said second continuous closed loop duct with the other of said air supply risers,

at least some of said cells at each story traversing said closed loop ducts at diametrically opposed points of said closed loop ducts intermediate the ends of said cells,

means for connecting at least one of said last-mentioned cells to said first closed loop duct at said points,

means for connecting at least another of said last-mentioned cells to said second closed loop duct at said points,

and means for mixing the air streams from said cells connected to said closed loop ducts and introducing them to zones of the building.

2. The combination set forth in claim ll, one said air supply riser supplying relatively cooler air to one closed loop duct and the other air supply riser supplying relatively warmer air to the other closed loop duct, the closed loop duct to which the relatively cooler air is supplied is positioned inwardly of the closed loop duct to which the relatively warmer air is supplied.

3. In a building, a combined structural and air conditionin system comprising spaced apart horizontal supports,

a plurality of structural cells extending in side-by-side relation across said supports,

each said cell ,having a length many times its width and height,

at least two air supply risers for supplying conditioned air,

a first continuous closed loop duct of substantially uniform cross section positioned adjacent said structural cells and in horizontally spaced relationship to the center and the periphery of the building,

means for connecting said first continuous closed loop duct with one of said air supply risers,

a second continuous closed loop duct of substantially uniform cross section positioned below said structural cells in horizontally spaced relation to the center and the periphery of the building,

means for connecting said second continuous closed loop duct with the other of said air supply risers,

at least some of said cells traversing said closed loop ducts at points intermediate the ends of said cells,

means for connecting at least one of said last-mentioned cells to said first closed loop duct at spaced points,

means for connecting at least another of said last-' mentioned cells to said second closed loop duct at spaced points,

and means for mixing the air streams from said cells connected to said closed loop ducts and introducing them to zones of the building.

4. The combination set forth in claim 3 wherein said closed loop ducts are positioned in the transition area between the thermal interior and peripheral zones of the building.

5. In a multi-story building, a combined structural and air conditioning system comprising spaced apart horizontal supports at each story of the building,

a plurality of structural cells extending in side-by-side relation across said supports,

each said cell having a length many times its width and height,

means defining a vertically extending service core spaced from the periphery of said building,

at least two pairs of air supply risers extending substantially vertically in said service core for supplying conditioned air at different temperatures to each story,

a first continuous closed loop duct of substantially uniform cross section positioned at each story adjacent said structural cells and in horizontally spaced relationship to the interior and to the periphery of the building,

means for connecting said first continuous closed loop duct with one of said pair of air supply risers,

a second continuous closed loop duct of substantially uniform cross section at each story positioned adjacent said structural cells in horizontally spaced relation to the interior and to the periphery of the building,

means for connecting said second continous closed loop duct with the other pair of said air supply risers,

at least some of said cells at each story traversing said closed loop ducts at points intermediate the end of said cells,

means for connecting at least one of said last-mentioned cells to said first closed loop duct at one of said points,

means for connecting at least another of said lastmentioned cells to said second closed loop duct at one of said points,

and means for mixing the air streams from said cells connected to said closed loop ducts and introducing them to zones of the building.

6. The combination set forth in claim 5 wherein said closed loop ducts are positioned in the transition area between the thermal interior and peripheral zones of the building.

7. In a building, a combined structural and air condi tioning system comprising spaced apart horizontal supports of the building,

a plurality of structural cells extending in si de-by-side relation across said supports,

each said cell having a length many times its width and height,

at least two pairs of air supply risers for supplying conditioned air at difierent temperatures,

a first continuous closed loop duct of substantially uniform cross section positioned adjacent said structural cells and in horizontally spaced relationship to the interior and to the periphery of the building,

means for connecting said first continuous closed loop duct with one of said pair of air supply risers,

a second continuous closed loop duct of substantially uniform cross section positioned adjacent said structural cells in horizontally spaced relation to the interior and to the periphery of the building,

means for connecting said second continuous closed loop duct with the other pair of said air supply risers,

at least some of said cells traversing said closed loop ducts at points intermediate the ends of said cells,

means for connecting at least another of said lastmentioned cells to said first closed loop duct at one of said points,

means for connecting at least another of said last-men tioned cells to said second closed loop duct at one of said points,

and means for mixing the air streams from said cells connected to said closed loop ducts and introducing them to zones of the building.

8. The combination set forth in claim 7 wherein said closed loop ducts are positioned in the transition area between the thermal interior and peripheral zones of the building.

9. In a building, a combined structural and air conditioning system comprising spaced apart horizontal supports in the building,

a plurality of structural cells extending in side-by-side relation across said supports,

each said cell having a length many times its Width and height,

at least two air supply risers for supplying conditioned air to said building,

a first continuous closed loop duct of substantially uniform cross section positioned adjacent said structural cells and in horizontally spaced relationship to the interior and the periphery of the building,

means for connecting said first continuous closed loop duct with one of said air supply risers,

a second continuous closed loop duct of substantially uniform cross section adjacent said structural cells in horizontally spaced relation to the center and the periphery of the building,

means for connecting said second continuous closed loop duct with the other of said air supply risers,

at least some of said cells traversing said closed loop ducts at points intermediate the ends of said cells,

said closed loop ducts are positioned in the transition area between the thermal interior and peripheral zones of the building.

11. In a building, a combined structural and air conditioning system comprising spaced apart horizontal supports,

a plurality of cells extending in side-by-side relation across said supports from one side of the building to another,

each said cell having a length many times its width and height,

at least one air supply riser for supplying conditioned air,

a continuous closed loop duct of substantially uniform cross section positioned adjacent said structural cells and in horizontally spaced relationship to the center,

means for connecting said continuous closed loop duct with said air supply riser,

at least some of said cells traversing said closed loop duct at spaced points thereof intermediate the end of said cells,

means for connecting at least one of said last-mentioned cells to said closed loop duct at said spaced points,

and means for mixing the air streams from said cells connected to said closed loop duct and introducing them to zones of the building.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,729,429 1/1956 Goemann 9831 2,856,131 10/1958 Conlan 9838 2,864,300 12/1958 Curran 98--31 2,908,211 10/1959 Curran 98-31 2,911,898 11/1959 Curran 98-31 2,915,955 12/1959 Curran 98-31 2,944,478 7/1960 Curran 9838 3,019,987 2/1962 Goemann 9838 ROBERT A. OLEARY, Assistant Examiner.

MEYER PERLIN, Primary Examiner. 

1. IN A MULTI-STORY BUILDING, A COMBINED STRUCTURAL AND AIR CONDITIONING SYSTEM COMPRISING SPACED APART HORIZONTAL SUPPORTS AT EACH STORY OF THE BUILDING, A PLURALITY OF STRUCTURAL CELLS EXTENDING IN SIDE-BY-SIDE RELATION ACROSS SAID SUPPORTS, EACH SAID CELL HAVING A LENGTH MANY TIMES ITS WIDTH AND HEIGHT, MEANS DEFINING A VERTICALLY EXTENDING SERVICE CORE SPACED FROM A THE PERIPHERY OF SAID BUILDING, AT LEAST TWO AIR SUPPLY RISERS EXTENDING SUBSTANTIALLY VERTICALLY IN SAID SERVICE CORE FOR SUPPLYING CONDITIONED AIR TO EACH STORY, A FIRST CONTINUOUS CLOSED LOOP DUCT OF SUBSTANTIALLY UNIFORM CROSS SECTION POSITIONED AT EACH STORY ADJACENT SAID STRUCTURAL CELLS AND IN HORIZONTALLY SPACED RELATIONSHIP TO SAID SERVICE CORE AND TO THE PERIPHERY OF THE BUILDING IN THE AREA OF TRANSITION BETWEEN THE THERMAL INTERIOR AND PERIPHERAL ZONES OF THE BUILDING, MEANS FOR CONNECTING SAID FIRST CONTINUOUS CLOSED LOOP DUCT WITH ONE OF SAID AIR SUPPLY RISERS, A SECOND CONTINUOUS CLOSED LOOP DUCT OF SUBSTANTIALLY UNIFORM CROSS SECTION AT EACH STORY POSITIONED ADJACENT SAID STRUCTURAL CELLS IN HORIZONTALLY SPACED RELATION TO SAID SERVICE CORE AND TO THE PERIPHERY OF THE BUILDING IN THE AREA OF TRANSISTION BETWEEN THE THERMAL INTERIOR AND PERIPHERAL ZONES OF THE BUILDING, MEANS FOR CONNECTING SAID SECOND CONTINUOUS CLOSED LOOP DUCT WITH THE OTHER OF SAID AIR SUPPLY RISERS, AT LEAST SOME OF SAID CELLS AT EACH STORY TRAVERSING SAID CLOSED LOOP DUCTS AT DIAMETRICALLY OPPOSED POINTS OF SAID CLOSED LOOP DUCTS INTERMEDIATE THE ENDS OF SAID CELLS, MEANS FOR CONNECTING AT LEAST ONE OF SAID LAST-MENTIONED CELLS TO SAID FIRST CLOSED LOOP DUCT AT SAID POINTS, MEANS FOR CONNECTING AT LEAST ANOTHER OF SAID LAST-MENTIONED CELLS TO SAID SECOND CLOSED LOOP DUCT AT SAID POINTS, AND MEANS FOR MIXING THE AIR STREAM FROM SAID CELLS CONNECTED TO SAID CLOSED LOOP DUCTS AND INTRODUCING THEM TO ZONES OF THE BUILDING. 